03:00 AM Friday March 15

An upper ridge will remain near or over the area through early next week. A weak front will break up over the coastal waters saturday evening. The ridge will strengthen monday and tuesday, giving well above normal temperatures.

SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/

A weak front dissipated overnight. The upper ridge will build today with more sunshine by afternoon. More sun and a little more low level offshore flow will boost temperatures--mainly into the 55-60 range but with some spots likely to break 60 degrees. The upper ridge will move east on saturday and weaken somewhat as a front approaches. Weak low level offshore flow will continue. High temperatures will be similar to friday. High clouds will increase saturday afternoon and then clouds will thicken and lower saturday night as another weak front breaks up over the area. The upper ridge is forecast to sharpen and amplify beginning sunday. This will result in a dry day, with plenty of sun, and highs in the upper 50s to mid 60s.

LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/

A strong upper ridge will remain over the area monday and tuesday with offshore flow. Skies will be sunny and highs will be in the 60s, with some low 70s possible in spots. The upper high drifts away to the northeast later tuesday and wednesday, allowing for some cooling, but wednesday should still be dry, with highs in the upper 50s to mid 60s. southerly flow aloft returns around thursday, with increasing clouds and a chance of showers. Highs will still be in the 55-60 range.

HYDROLOGY

Flooding is not expected for the next 7 days.

MARINE

A weak front will dissipate over the coastal waters saturday evening, but light offshore flow will be the rule into early next week. High pressure is inland and over british columbia and low pressure far offshore. There is a bit of thermal low pressure nosing into the willamette on sunday--the flow looks more northerly on that day so there should be an afternoon northerly breeze for sailing sunday afternoon on puget sound.

SEW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES

Wa...none. Pz...none.

CLIMATE

The high of 54 degrees on thursday in seattle was 1 degree above normal. The last time seattle had a high temperature above normal was february 1st ( a streak of 40 days in a row without a high above normal ). The warmest day so far this year in seattle is 61 degrees on january 11th. The last time seattle had a high of at least 65 degrees was october 18th ( 67 degrees ). The last time seattle had more than 2 days in a row with highs 60 degrees plus was also back in october, october 10th through the 19th. Felton

AVIATION

A weak front dissipated overnight. The flow aloft is westerly. There will be more sunshine today as the upper ridge rebuilds and the mid level clouds thin out and break up.

Ksea...the clouds will break up and scatter out today. Light winds will turn northerly in the afternoon.